Jump-spake electsic gras-lighteb



fwcnbii' A. J. D. LENZ JUMP SPARK ELECTRK) GAS LIGHTER.

A PLICATION FILED OCT-21,1920.

Patented June 21, 1921 l lranston, in the countyof Cook and Stat Rh'll'" FMVE.

ALVIN J. D. LENZ, 0F EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

JUMP-SPARK ELEGTRIC GAS-LIGHTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1.921.

' Application filed October 21, 1920. Serial No. 418,399.

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN J. D. LnNZ, citizen of the Unlted States, residlng a of Illinois have invented a certain new an useful Improvement in Jump-Spark Elec tric Gas-Lighters, of which the following is" a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for"? lighting inflammable gases in such a manner that the person doing the lighting may stand at a distance from the point where the flame is to be created and thus escape all chance of injury therefrom. cable in lighting ordinary gas lamps, stoves. and grates.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is very efficient as a lighter itself, which has the very important advantage of being practically non -short-circuitable, and which is so con structed that if a child or someone else places a connecting device across the points where the spark takes place no shock is received. The invention consists in means for carrying out the foregoing object which can be easily and cheaply made, which is satisfactory in use and is not readily liable to get out of order. More particularly the invention consists in features and details of construction hereafter more fully set forth in the specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional View illustrating a conventional form of electric gas lighter having the special mechanism of this invention applied at the operating end.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of certain parts of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the igniting or sparking coil detached from the handle; and

Fig. 4L is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 shows a conventional form of handle having through its center a tubular passage 12 entered by electric conducting wires 14, 16 and 17, the latter two of which are respectively connected to the switch terminals 18 and 19, adapted to be engaged by an opposite switch terminal 20 manipulated by a push handle or button 22. The wire 14 continues on through the left it is especially appli hand end of handle 10 and through the center of insulated block 2 1 until it terminates at the left hand end of the latter member 11 one firing contact 26. The block 24 is made cylindrical at its left hand end and of an enlarged conical form at its right hand end so that a coil 80 of bare conducting wire may be inserted on it from the left and drawn to the position shown by the constructors pulling on its end 32 until it can be secured in position by means of screw 3% by which it is attached to switch member 2-0. The opposite or efiective end 36 of coil 'a substantial distance from the end convolution 10 of the coil until it is separated from terminal 26 by the usual jump space or gap 38 across which electric charges may pass in the usual manner when a properly constructed machine for producing such discharges is attached beyond the right hand end of Fig. 1 through the wires 14:, 16 and 17. This turning the end 36 of the coil 30 inside the coil has two very important advantages. The first is that the jump space 38 is generally protected by the outer convolutions of the coil 30, thereby preventing foreign objects from getting in between terminals 26 and 36 and short circuiting the device. The second is that when a small boy or other mischievous person places a metal rod or nail in the end of the coil 30 to investigate the points 26 and 36 and does actually connect them he cannot make this connection without the object he carries touching the end convolution 40 of the coil with the result that the current in the inserted member is carried back directly to coil 30, thus preventing any part of the current passing through the fingers or body of the person manipulating the instrument thus avoiding all chance of shock.

The end coils of the member 30 about spark gap 38 are spaced apart slightly as shown so as to allow the free passage of gas into contact with the terminals 26 and 36 when the operator holding handle 10 places the device in the gas stream.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, a central terminal adapted to be supplied with electric energy and a coil of conducting material about and clear of said central termiin the coil to a point in proximity to'the firstterminal, for the purposes set forth.

2. A device oi. the character described comprising a coiled conductor having a terminal thereof turned inwardly within the coil, a second conductor having a terminal thereof spaced from said first terminal to thereby provide a spark gap protected by the convolutions of the coil, and means for controlling the How of electriccurrent across said gap.

7 A device of the character described comprising a handle having a tapered portion, a coiled conductor adapted for engagement over the tapered portion of said handle whereby it is retained in proper relation with respect thereto, a second conductor having one terminal thereof spaced relative to a terminal of the coiled conductor to provide a spark gap, and means for controlling the flow of electric current across said gap.

at. A device of the character described comprising a handle, a coiled conductor'carried by, and extending beyond one end of said handle, a terminal of said conductor being turned inwardly toward the handle and disposed within the convolutions of the coil, a second conductor having a terminal thereof spaced from said first terminal to provide a spark gap, and means for controlling the flower electric current across said gap.

5. A device of the character described comprising a handle, a conductor extending through said handle and terminating adjacent to one end thereof, a second coiled conductor engaged over the handle and extending beyond one end thereof, means for securing said coiled'conductor to the handle, a terminal of said coiled conductor being turned inwardly within 'the convolutions of its coils and disposed in spaced relation to a terminal of-the first conductor to provide a spark gap, the convolutions of the extending portion of thecoiled conductor being spaced relative to each other, and switch means carried by the handle for'controlling the flow of electric current across said gap.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of a witness. ALVIN J. D. LENZ.

lVitness:

DWIGHT B. CHEEVER. 

